System of lubrication.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD M. SGHEIBE, F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNOR 'ro WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ACORPORATIONQF PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM OF LUBRICATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed December 31, 1913. Serial No. 809,651.

My invention relates to s stems of lubrio cation, and it has for its obect to provide a 1 simple and efiicient means for accurately determiningthe proper amount of oil to be supplied to an oil receptacle, access towhich is inconvenient or impossible. I

The operation of various kinds of machines requires that the bearings beequipped with receptacles fora su-fficient supply of oil to lubricatethe bearings for a relatively long period without replenishing the same.The construction of such machines as, for example, ceiling fans makes itnecessary to locate the bearings and oil wells at inaccessible points inthe structure. It is highly desirable that the oil well may be-filled atvarious times without dismantling the structure and without causing theoil to overflow the surrounding parts. provide a system by means ofwhich it is impossible to cause the oil well to overflow and whichinsures that. the proper amount of oil shall be supplied to the well.The height of the oil, or its head, operates, througha column of air toautomatically stop the flow of oil into the supply opening at theexterior of the structure. The oil first enters an inverted siphonstructure or trap to which the pressure of the oil in the well istransmitted by the air column above referred to. In the drawings, thesingle figure is a sectional view of an electric fan with my inventionapplied thereto. An electric fan 1 of the ceiling type comprises thestationary field structure 2 of an electric motor and the armature 3which carries a set of fan blades 4. The fan is supported by a tube 5which is threaded into the upper portion of a member 6 that is integralwith the end casing 7 A tubular shaft 8, which is threaded into thelower portion of the member 6, supports, at its lower end, a member 9that is provided with a radial flange 10 to inclose the bottom of thefan structure. The member 9 is also provided with a vertical cylindricalflange 11 which forms the outer wall of an oil well 12. A tube 13,having an external diameter that is less than the internal, diameter ofthe shaft .8, occupies the'bore 14: of the latter. The end portions 15of the tube 13 are expanded and soldered or brazed to' the shaft 8 toform an annular duct 16 between the tube 13 and the shaft.

The member 6 is provided with aduct 17 which has the, form of aninverted siphon.

The inner end of the .duct 17 opens into an annular groove 18. The shaft8 is provided with an .opening 19 which connects the groove 18 and theduct 16. The duct 16 is connected to the oil well 12 by a series ofopenings 20 in the wall of the shaft 8. The oil is carried upward fromthe well 12 by means of a helical groove 21 upon the exterior surface ofthe shaft 8.

The armature 3 is provided with a bearing member 22 which surrounds'thestationary shaft 8 and is' provided with ducts 28 which connect the well12 with an annular groove 24:. The bearing member 22 is supported by aball bearing that is indicated atl 25 and is below the normal level ofthe o1 When it is desired to fill the well, oil is introduced into theouter end of the duct 17 through which it flows to the groove 18, andthen through the opening 19, the annular duct 16 and openings 20 intothe well 12. It

will be understood that the oil flows freely through the duct 17 becauseof the height of the outer end above the inner end. Itmay be noted alsothat the duct 16 is much larger in cross sectional area, than the duct 117. This construction insures that the quantity of oil which may flowthrough the duct 17 will occupy only a portion of the space of the duct16, and that .aquantity of air will remain in the latter duct during theflow of oil. These conditions will be maintained until the level of theoil in the well is above the openings 20. Then the gradually increasingstatic head of the oil in the well causes the level of the oil in theduct 16 to rise above the openings 20 and thereby shorten the column ofair contained in the duct 16 and put the same under pressure. Thispressure opposes the flow of oil through the opening 19. When thepressure of the air becomes sufficiently high to overcome the pressurecaused by the head of oil in the duct 17 oil ceases to flow through thelatter and any overflow takes place at the outer end of the duct whereit may be readily perceived. The height of the oil in the well at whichthe flow in the duct 17 is cut oil, may be determined by properlyproportioning the various parts.

While I have shoWn my invention as applied to a fan motor, it may beapplied equally as well to various other machines. It is understood thatthe details of my invention may be varied within the limits of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of lubrication, the combination With an oil well, and amember having a supply opening, of unitary means for connecting saidopening to said oil well and for automatically controlling the flow ofoil through said opening.

2. In a system of lubrication, the combination with a receptacle forliquids, and a ,member having a supply opening above said receptacle,and of a duct connecting said receptacle to said opening, said ductembodying means for preventing the flow of liquid through said openingwhen the liquid in said receptacle reaches a predetermined height.

3. In a system of lubrication, the combination with a receptacle for oiland a member having a supply opening connected to said receptacle, ofmeans interposed between said opening and said receptacle for placing aquantity of air under pressure to control the flow of oil through saidopening.

4. In a system of lubrication, the combination With a receptacle forliquids, and amember having a supply opening, of means comprising a ducthavlng a depressed portion for connectlng said openlng to sandreceptacle and for controlling the flow of a liquid through saidopening.

5. In a system of lubrication, the combination with a receptacle, amember provided with a supply opening above said receptacle, of a ductfor connecting said opening to said receptacle, the flow of a liquidthrough said opening being controlled by the air pressure in said duct.

6. In a system of lubrication, the combination with a receptacle, of aduct for conducting liquid to' said receptacle, said duct being providedwith an opening above said receptacle, and comprising means dependentupon the air pressure in said duct for stopping the flow of a liquidthrough said opening when the liquid in said receptacle reaches apredetermined height. a

7. In a system of lubrication, the combination with an oil well, of amember provided with a supply opening above said oil well, means forconnecting said opening and said oil well, said means comprising a ducthaving an intermediate portion that is lower than the remainder of saidduct, and a second duct having a cross-sectional area larger than thatof the first duct.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day ofDecemher, 1913.

HAROLD M. SCHEIBE. Witnesses:

M. B. HOWARD, L. O. FRANoIs.

